Pneumatically actuated clutch

ABSTRACT

A clutch assembly having a drive shaft operably connected to a first hub or clutch plate. A second hub or clutch plate adjacent to the first clutch plate and operably connected to a second drive shaft. A release ring positioned to selectively release both clutch plates. Positioned to engage the release ring is a pneumatic actuating member that is operably connected to a source of compressed air.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/306,654filed Jan. 5, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed toward a clutch that requires a small amountof current to actuate, and more specifically to a clutch that isactuated pneumatically.

Clutches are well known in the art and are used on a variety ofmechanical devices. Typically, clutches are actuated either mechanicallyor electrically such as with a solenoid or the like. In some systems,particularly low current systems, the amount of current required toactuate the clutch limits the number of clutches that may be used in asystem. For example, for a typical corn planter, a solenoid requiresapproximately 30 amps to pull a piston to engage a release ring, andapproximately 1 amp to hold the piston in engagement. As a result, basedon the limitations of the electrical system, one clutch is used toactivate several corn planters. With the advent of GPS, this createsinefficiencies in planting where independent control of each planter isdesired. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a device that addressesthese deficiencies.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pneumaticallyactuated clutch.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide a clutch thatis actuated by a reduced amount of current.

These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the artbased on the following written description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A clutch assembly having a drive shaft operably connected to a first hubor clutch plate. A second hub or clutch plate adjacent to the firstclutch plate and operably connected to a second drive shaft. A releasering positioned to selectively release both clutch plates. Positioned toengage the release ring is a pneumatic actuating member that is operablyconnected to a source of compressed air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pneumatic clutch assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a pneumatic clutch assembly;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of an alternative pneumatic clutchassembly; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an actuating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures the pneumatically actuated clutch is generallyreferred to by reference numeral 10. The clutch may be of any shape,size, and structure and used for a variety of applications including usewith automobiles, air conditioners, chainsaws, farm implements, and thelike. The following description is of a clutch used with a corn planterand is used for illustration purposes only and is not intended to limitthe invention in any manner.

The clutch 10 has a pair of drive shafts 12, 14, that are operativelyconnected to a first 16 and a second 18 hub or clutch plate. One driveshaft 12 is operably driven by a motor or pulley (not shown) and theother shaft is operatively connected to an operating device such as acorn planter (not shown). The first and second clutch plates 16 and 18are adjacent to one another and are partially received by a torsionspring (not shown) which in a natural state is compressed against hubs16 and 18 such that they rotate together. Surrounding the torsion springis a release ring 20.

Positioned to selectively engage the release ring 20 is a pneumaticactuating member 22. The actuating member 22 is of any size, shape, andstructure that permits expansion to engage the release ring 20. Oneexample of an actuating member 22 is a rubber tube that is operativelyconnected to a source of compressed air 24. Alternatively, the actuatingmember 22 is an air bag connected to a source of compressed air 24 or anair cylinder that activates a piston that engages ring 20. Preferably,the actuating member 22 expands approximately 300% under 35 PSI and hasa compound on the members 22 outer surface that becomes sticky as themember expands to better engage the release ring 20.

The source of compressed air 24 is of any type including a 12V portablecompressor mounted to a vehicle or a rechargeable portable tank withouta compressor. The source of compressed air 24 may be electricallyconnected to a controller 26 that sends a signal to activate the sourceof compressed air 24 which in turn activates the pneumatic actuatingmember 22. The controller 26 may be wirelessly connected to a GPS system28 to permit activation based on geographic location.

In operation the motor or pulley rotates drive shaft 12 which in turnrotates hub 16. In a non-actuated state clutch plate 18 and shaft 14rotate together. To activate, an operator either manually activates thesource of compressed air 24 or the source of compressed air is activatedby a signal received from the controller 26. Once activated, compressedair is released and provided to the pneumatic actuating member 22 whichcauses member 22 to engage the release ring 20. When engaged by themember 22, the release ring 20 frictionally engages the torsion springsuch that the hubs 16 and 18 are rotatably released and do not rotatetogether. This arrangement requires approximately 15 milliamps ofcurrent.

In another example, such as a clutch 10 used for an automobile, aflywheel 30 is mounted to an engine 32. A drive shaft 14 is received ina hub 34 and extends outwardly therefrom. Mounted about shaft 14 andpositioned to engage the flywheel 30 is a clutch plate 16. Positioned toengage the clutch plate 16 is a pneumatic actuating member 22 that isoperably connected to a source of compressed air 24. The actuatingmember 22 is mounted within a clutch cover 36. To actuate the clutch 10compressed air is released from the source of compressed air 24 to theactuating member 22. The released air fills the actuating member 22 suchthat the member 22 expands pressing clutch plate 16 into frictionalengagement with the flywheel 30.

In order to selectively and independently activate actuating members 22a valve module 38, as shown by example in FIG. 4, is used. The valvemodule 38 is electrically connected to the controller 26 for eithermanual activation or activation through a conventional GPS system 28.

The valve module 38 includes a housing 40 that contains a plurality ofvalves 42. The valves 42 are connected, through the housing 40, to thesource of compressed air 24 by tube 43. Also connected to each valve 42at one end is an air tube 44 that is connected to the pneumaticactuating member 22 at the opposite end of the air tube 44. Multipleactuating members 22 may be connected to each air tube 44 through theuse of at least one or more connectors 46 such as a Y or T connector.This connection system is known as “daisy chaining” and allows one toeasily connect and disconnect actuating members 22 based on the desiredapplication. In this manner a group of actuating members 22 areactivated when a selected valve 42 is activated by the controller 26.

This system is particularly valuable in a planting device. For example,a twelve row planter using a valve module 38 having four valves 42 maybe set to control four sections of three rows each. Should greatercontrol be desired, a second valve module 38 may be added having twovalves 42 so that the modules 38 may be set to control six sections oftwo rows each.

In operation the controller 26 transmits a signal to activate the sourceof compressed air 24 and also selectively activates valves 42 basedeither on a manual command or a geographic location as determined by theGPS system 28. Once activated, valve 42 permits compressed air to travelthrough tube 44 to the actuating member 22 to activate the actuatingmember 22.

Therefore, a pneumatic actuated clutch has been shown that, at the veryleast, meets all the stated objectives.

1. An actuating system for a planting device, comprising: a springactuated clutch having a release ring; a pneumatic actuating memberconnected to a source of compressed air through a valve and positionedto engage the release ring; the source of compressed air being connectedto a controller that activates the source of compressed air.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the controller activates the source ofcompressed air based on a manual command.
 3. The system of claim 1wherein the controller activates the source of compressed air based on ageographic location determined by a GPS system.
 4. An actuating systemfor a planting device, comprising: more than one spring actuated clutch,with each clutch having a release ring, more than one pneumaticactuating member positioned to engage the clutches, a valve modulehaving more than one valve, the valves connected to the actuatingmembers and a source of compressed air; a controller connected to thesource of compressed air and the valve module that activates the valvesand the source of compressed air.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein thevalves are connected to more than one actuating member.
 6. The system ofclaim 5 herein the controller activates the compressed air and thevalves based on a manual command.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein thecontroller activates the compressed air and the valves based ongeographic location determined by a GPS system.